Minnesota Vikings running back has hired high-profile attorney Rusty Hardin to represent him in his fight against charges of resisting arrest after a weekend incident in his offseason hometown of Houston.
Hardin recently earned an acquittal for Roger Clemens in his perjury case. Hardin is based in Houston.
Peterson, 27, was arrested at a Houston area night club early Saturday morning after police alleged he shoved an off-duty officer working security at the club and had to be restrained by three officers before being handcuffed. He was booked into the jail before being released about eight hours later on a $1,000 bond.
Peterson's only public response came in a pair of tweets Sunday afternoon.
"Thank you for waiting for the facts. Truth will surface," Peterson wrote on his Twitter page (@AdrianPeterson).
Police spokesperson Kese Smith said the officer Peterson shoved asked Peterson and his group to leave because the club was closing. The officer then went to tell other patrons to leave the club but returned to Peterson who allegedly didn't act on the first request.
Smith said Peterson told the officer he heard him the first time and pushed the officer in the shoulder, causing him to stumble. The officer told Peterson he was under arrest and to put his hands behind his back. Smith said. Peterson began yelling and "assumed an aggressive stance," so another off-duty officer offered help. Peterson continued to struggle with both officers until he was handcuffed with the help of a third off-duty officer.
According to Smith, Peterson complained of shortness of breath after he was taken to a Houston jail. The player was examined by Houston Fire Department personnel, who determined Peterson was fine.
He was charged with a Class A misdemeanor, punishable in Texas with up to one year in county jail and/or a fine not to exceed $4,000 or up to two years of community supervision.
Peterson also tweeted a quote from Winston Churchill Sunday, writing on his Twitter page:
" 'A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.' WC"
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